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Elementary

Ruth Krumhansl, Founder of the Oceans of Data Institute (ODI), describes all the ways big data is changing lives today, the challenges that big data brings, and why ODI is working to transform education to include more data-relevant instruction.

"Data will be part of [student's] future and it should be part of their instruction too".

The company Strava was in the news recently for its ability to display highly accurate maps using position data from personal fitness devices (e.g., Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc.). Not only are GPS fitness devices tracking a person’s mileage on land, many also track water activities, such as swimming, to within a few meters.

ODI RESOURCES

Why Analytical Thinking? In 2014, ODI gathered an expert panel of professionals that work with big data. After 2 days of intense discussion, this expert panel developed a list of the knowledge and skills essential to working with big data. Their work was then validated by almost 100 peers who work as big data analysts. As you can see below, Analytical Thinking ranked highest in both the knowledge AND skills essential to being an effective big data-enabled specialist.

Today’s students will graduate into a world where oceans of data are available to influence and drive decision making. When the Oceans of Data Institute (http://oceansofdata.org) surveyed 300+ students from community college and university settings, 85% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the ability to make sense of data is important to get a good job and will help in their future careers. An overwhelming 90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that learning to make sense of data will help them be more effective and informed citizens.

About 20 years ago, psychologist Lynn Liben presented an model of the relationships among a learner, an external (i.e. not mental) representation, and those aspects of the real world represented by the representation (the “referent”). Liben notes that the learner can learn either through direct interactions with the real world or through interactions with a representation.

This poster presented the first results from Principal Scientist Kim Kastens’ collaborative grant on “Making Meaning from Geoscience Data: A Challenge at the Intersection between Geosciences and Cognitive Sciences.” ...